Usage:
Tetrachloroethene is a useful solvent. According to BGA (1988),
35% of the amount produced is used to degrease metal surfaces and
50% in dry cleaning establishments. LAI (1988) estimates that
60-65% are used for the treatment of metal surfaces and 20% in
dry cleaning establishments. Stabilisers with widely differing
chemical compositions are added to reduce the vapour pressure.
Important products are e.g. contact adhesives, degreasing agents,
wax removers, shoe polishes, garden pesticides, upholstery
cleaners and carpet cleaners. In most products, tetrachloroethene
has been replaced by other less toxic solvents.

Origin/derivation:
Tetrachloroethene is produced by oxyhydrochlorination,
perchlorination and dehydrochlorination of hydrocarbons or
chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Production figures:

Worldwide

1978-80

1,100,000 t

(RIPPEN, 1989)

Worldwide

1985

650,000 t

(ULLMANN, 1986)

EC

1980

< 500,000 t

(BGA, 1988)

USA

1977

304,000 t

(BGA, 1988)

USA

1985

220,000 t

(ULLMANN, 1986)

D

1979

113,000 t

(BMI, 1985)

D

1985

110,000 t

(ULLMANN, 1986)

D

1986

75,000 t

(LAI, 1988)

Japan

1973

57,000 t

(RIPPEN, 1989)

France

1981

26,000 t

(RIPPEN, 1989)

Mexico (Import)

1984

15,000 t

(RIPPEN, 1989)

Sweden

1977

5,300 t

(RIPPEN, 1989)

Toxicity

Humans:

LD0 140 mg/m3 (1.3
or 7.5 h/d for 5 d/w)

acc. WHO, 1984

Mammals:

Mouse:

LD50 8,000-11,000 mg/m3,
oral

acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983

Mouse:

LC100 135,000 mg/m3
(2 h)

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Mouse:

LC50 332,200 mg/m3
(0,5 h)

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Rat:

NEL 475 mg/m3, inhalation (8
h/d for 5 d/w)

acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983

Rat:

LD50 > 5,000 mg/kg, oral

acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983

Rat:

LD50 13,000 mg/kg, oral (6 h)

acc. WHO, 1984

Rat:

LC100 20,000 ppm, inhalation
(0,4 h)

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Rat:

LC100 2,500 ppm, inhalation (7
h)

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Rabbit:

LD 20,000 ppm, inhalation (2
h)

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Guinea pig:

LC100 37,000 ppm, inhalation
(0,67 h)

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Cat:

LCL0 6,074 ppm, inhalation (2
h)

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Aquatic organisms:

Water flea:

LC50 18 mg/l (48 h)

acc. WHO, 1984

Water flea:

NEL 10 mg/l (48 h)

acc. WHO, 1984

American minnow:

LC50 23.5 ng/l (24 h)

acc. VERSCHUEREN, 1983

Blue perch:

LC50 46 mg/l (24 h)

acc. WHO, 1984

Blue perch:

LC50 13 mg/l (96 h)

acc. WHO, 1984

Characteristic effects:

Humans/mammals: Tetrachloroethene is resorbed through
the skin because of its fat-dissolving properties. Concentrations
above 680 mg/m3 irritate the eyes and the respiratory
tract, concentrations of 4,000-6,000 mg/m3 during 45
minutes cause numbness. The substance acts on the central nervous
system and produces headaches, dizziness and nausea. Inhalation
often results in delayed neurological damage.

Both, the WHO and the German Research Foundation (DFG) have
classified tetrachloroethene as a substance suspected of
carcinogenic potential. A few experiments with yeast cells have
also revealed mutagenic effects. There is no proof of
teratogenity or fetal toxicity yet.

ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR

Water:
Tetrachloroethene sinks in water because of its poor water
solubility and its high density. Thus, it may accumulate in
groundwater and surface water. Tetrachloroethene is classed as
very hazardous to water (in Germany: water hazard class 3). It is
toxic to aquatic organisms and decomposes slowly to form
trichloroacetic acid and hydrochloric acid. Degradation by
microorganisms has been observed (from sequential
dehydrochlorination up to mineralisation). Tetrachloroethene
finds its way into the water cycle via industrial waste water.

Air:
Because of its high vapour pressure, about 80-90% of the
substance ingresses into the atmosphere where it is ubiquitously
distributed. Tetrachloroethene may be degraded by photolysis and
is probably involved in the depletion of the ozone layer.
Exchange takes place between air and water with the transition
into the atmosphere being the most common path.

Soil:The accumulation of tetrachloroethene in soil is dependent on
the grain size and the water and humus content. Biological
degradation takes place in soil. High concentrations are to be
found in the immediate vicinity of emission sources.

Half-life:
The half-life for hydrolysis in aerated water is between 9 months
and 6 years (UBA, 1986). In the troposphere, half-life amounts to
approx. 12 weeks or, if photodegradation takes place, up to 8
weeks (UBA, 1986 and MALTONI et al., 1986). The persistence in
water-unsaturated soils is 2-18 months (DVGW, 1985).

Degradation, decomposition products:Degradation in soil takes place via methanogenic, anaerobic
microorganisms (UBA, 1986). In the troposphere, the substance is
decomposed by photo-oxidation to form carbon dioxide and
hydrochloric acid. In water, trichloroacetic and hydrochloric
acid are formed (BGA, 1985). Other decomposition products are
phosgene (COCl2), di- and trichloroacetyl chloride.
The liver degrades tetrachloroethene in the human body.

Food chain:
There is a moderate accumulation of tetrachloroethene in fatty
tissues.

ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS

Medium/
acceptor

Sector

Country/organ.

Status

Value

Cat.

Remarks

Source

Water:

Drinkw

D

L

0.01 mg/l

acc. TVO, 1990

Drinkw

EC

G

0.001 g/m3

acc. LAU-BW, 1989

Drinkw

WHO

G

10 µg/l

acc. WHO, 1984

Surface

USA

20 µg/l

acc. WHO, 1987

Waste water

CH

L

0.05 g/m3

For drinking water

acc. LAU-BW, 1989

Waste water

D

L

5 g/m3

At point of discharge

acc. ROTH, 1989

Air:

D

L

35 mg/m3

MIK

Long-time value

acc. BAUM, 1988

D

L

110 mg/m3

MIK

Short-time value 2)

acc. BAUM, 1988

D

L

100 mg/m3

1)

acc. KÜHN & BIRETT, 1988

D

G

5 mg/m3

3)

acc. BGA, 1988

DDR

L

0.5 mg/m3

Short-time value

acc. HORN, 1989

DDR

L

0.06 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. HORN, 1989

WHO

G

5 mg/m3

24 h guide value

acc. LAU-BW, 1989

WHO

G

8 mg/m3

30 min

acc. LAU-BW, 1989

Emiss.

D

L

0.1 g/m3

mass flow > 2 kg/h

acc. TA Luft, 1986

Workp

A

(L)

260 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Workp

AUS

(L)

670 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

B

(L)

670 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

BG

(L)

10 mg/m3

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Workp

BR

(L)

525 mg/m3

48 h/w

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

CH

(L)

345 mg/m3

Long-time value, skin

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

CS

(L)

250 mg/m3

4)

acc. WHO, 1984

Workp

CS

(L)

1,250 mg/m3

Short-time value

acc. WHO, 1984

Workp

D

L

345 mg/m3

TRK (IIIB)

DFG, 1989

Workp

DDR

(L)

300 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. HORN, 1989

Workp

DDR

(L)

900 mg/m3

Short-time value

acc. HORN, 1989

Workp

E

(L)

110 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Workp

ET

(L)

267 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Workp

F

(L)

405 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Workp

F

(L)

1,080 mg/m3

4)

acc. MALTONI et al., 1986

Workp

GB

(L)

678 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

GB

(L)

1,000 mg/m3

10 min

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

H

(L)

10 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

H

(L)

50 mg/m3

30 min

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

I

(L)

400 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. MALTONI et al.,1986

Workp

I

(L)

1,000 mg/m3

Skin

acc. MALTONI et al.,1986

Workp

J

(L)

268 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. MALTONI et al.,1986

Workp

J

(L)

345 mg/m3

4)

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

NL

(L)

190 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. MALTONI et al.,1986

Workp

NL

(L)

240 mg/m3

Long-time value, skin

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

PL

(L)

60 mg/m3

4)

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

RO

(L)

400 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

RO

(L)

500 mg/m3

4)

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

S

(L)

140 mg/m3

1 day

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

S

(L)

350 mg/m3

15 min

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

SF

(L)

335 mg/m3

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

SU

(L)

10 mg/m3

4)

acc. MALTONI et al.,1986

Workp

USA

(L)

335 mg/m3

TWA

ACGIH, 1986

Workp

USA

(L)

1,340 mg/m3

STEL

15 min

ACGIH, 1986

Workp

YU

(L)

10 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. WHO, 1987

Workp

YU

(L)

200 mg/m3

Long-time value

acc. MALTONI et al.,1986

Workp

D

L

100 µg/dl

BAT

Blood

DFG, 1989

Workp

D

L

9.5 ml/m3

BAT

Alveolar air

DFG, 1989

Foodstuffs:

D

L

1 mg/kg

acc. BGA, 1988

D

L

0.1 mg/kg

acc. UMWELT, 1989

D

L

0.2 mg/kg

5)

acc. UMWELT, 1989

Cosmetics:

D

L

0 mg/kg

Ban

acc. DVGW, 1985

EC

L

0 mg/kg

Ban

acc. WHO, 1984

Notes:

1) With mass flow of 2 kg/h and more2) With in 4 hours with max. 30 min. overshoot3) Indoor air4) Maximum value5) Cumulative value for several solvents in one
foodstuff

Comparison/reference values

Medium/origin

Country

Value

Source

Surface water

Rhine (Basle, 1982):

D

0.18-1.73 µg/l

acc. DVGW, 1985

Rhine (Karlsruhe, 1982):

D

0.2-1.39 µg/l

acc. DVGW, 1985

Rhine (Wiesbaden, 1983):

D

0.14-4.1 µg/l

acc. DVGW, 1985

Rhine (Cologne, 1983):

D

0.16-0.63 µg/l

acc. DVGW, 1985

Main (Frankfurt, 1979):

D

0.35-2.8 µg/l

acc. DVGW, 1985

Ruhr (Witten, 1983):

D

0.1-0.6 µg/l

acc. DVGW, 1985

Elbe (1982/83):

D

0.2-9.3 µg/l

acc. UBA, 1986

Weser (1982/83):

D

0.5-1 µg/l

acc. UBA, 1986

Danube (1983-1985):

D

0.1-2.8 µg/l

acc. UBA, 1986

Drinking water:

Wiesbaden (1980)

D

< 1.8 µg/l

acc. DVGW, 1985

Taunus (1980)

D

< 10.5 µg/l

acc. DVGW, 1985

Medmenham (1981)

GB

< 0.01 µg/l

acc. DVGW, 1985

5 cities (1977)

J

0.2-0.6 µg/l

acc. DVGW, 1985

22 cities (1977)

USA

< 2 µg/l

acc. DVGW, 1985

Gothenburg (1978)

S

< 0.008 µg/l

acc. DVGW, 1985

Sediment:

Rhine: (Hitdorf, 1982)

D

4 µg/kg

acc. DVGW, 1985

Ruhr: (1972-1981)

D

4-36 µg/kg

acc. DGVW, 1985

Assessment/comments

According to the Chemicals Law, tetrachloroethene is classed
as non-toxic in Germany, but the risk of cancer has not yet been
ruled out. Due to the various sources of contamination, chronic
exposure of employees to concentrations which may cause adverse
effects is frequent.

Assessment is made more difficult because of the variety of
stabilisers which are added to technical tetrachloroethene. Some
of the reactive hydrocarbons contained in the stabiliser mixtures
such as epichlorohydrin and 1,4-dioxane are suspected of being
carcinogenic. The contamination of groundwater and drinking water
is of major concern as tetrachloroethene is only slowly degraded
in groundwater.

Therefore, the usage of tetrachloroethene should be
considerably restricted, production plants should be converted
into closed systems and provided with solvent-recovery systems.
Whenever it is necessary to work on open systems (e.g. servicing,
repairs), these have to be cooled down previously, and
respiratory protection must be worn.